Container and lid

ABSTRACT

A container has a container flange on an upper end portion of the container extending about the outer surface of the container. The container flange has at least one first portion for contacting and engagement with a tab of a lid of the container for releasably locking the lid to the container.

United States Patent Smith 1 51 June 20, 1972 CONTAINER AND LID 3,1 16,007 12/1963 DEsposito et a1 .229/45 [72] Inventor: Ernest L. Smith, Kansas City, Mo. 2 "5 5/ [73] Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company 2,053,679 9/ 1936 Page ..229/45 1,955,865 4/1934 Wellman ..229/45 [22] Frled: June 11, 1970 [21 1 pp No: 45,387 FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 623,499 7/1961 Canada ..229/5.7

[52] US. Cl. ..229/43, 220/42 A, 220/60, Primary ExamineFJoSePh R Leclair 229/5 Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus [51] Int. Cl ..B65d 43/10 Anorney young and Quigg [58] F1eld of Search ..215/38; 220/42 A, 60, 60 A,

220/43 P; 229/45, 5.5, 43, 5.7 57 CT 56] References Cited A container has a container flange on an upper end portion of the container extendmg about the outer surface of the con- UNITED STATES PATENTS tainer. The container flange has at least one first portion for contacting and engagement with a tab of a lid of the container 3,294,309 12/1966 CO8 ..229/45 for releasably locking the lid to the container 3,146,935 9/1964 Carkhuff et a1 ..229/45 3,297,193 l/1967 Stevens, Jr ..220/60 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEnJunzo m2 K vezsawr 1:19:62 mvflniilzzawmal INVENTOR. E. L. SMITH A TTORNEYS CONTAINER AND LID It is desirable to have a container constructed to receive a snap-on lid that engages the container and releasably locks the lid to the container.

This invention resides in a combination of a container which has a container flange having a first portion for receiving a tab of a lid of the container for providing a container with a snapon releasably locking lid. An object of this invention is to provide a container and lid combination of the above described type that is simple to construct and operate. Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the disclosure, the appended claims, and the drawing.

The drawings are isometric views of the container and associated lid and a sectional view of a portion of the container and lid.

FIG. 1 shows a portion of the container,

FIG. 2 shows the container lid with a portion cutaway, and

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of portions of the container and lid with the lid in the locking position.

Referring to FIG. 1, a container 2 has walls 4 and a top portion 6 opening into a chamber 8 of the container 2.

A container flange 10 is provided on the top portion 6 of the walls 4 of the container 2 about at least a portion of the outer periphery of the top portion 6 of the container 2. The container flange 10 extends downwardly from the walls 4. The container flange 10 comprises at least one tab portion 12 and one first portion 14 defined by slot 1 l. The first portion 14 has a width less than the width of the tab portion 12 and a line of severance 16 extends upwardly from the slot 11 through the first portion 14. The tab portion 12 of the flange 10 is constructed with and attached to the walls 4 of the container 2 and the first portion 14 of the flange 10 is spaced from the adjacent container walls 4.

Referring to FIG. 2, a lid 18 for the container 2 has a central portion 20 having dimensions sufficient for covering the opening of the chamber 8 of the container 2. The lid 18 has a lid flange 22 extending downwardly from the central portion 20 and having dimensions sufiicient for extending about and over the outer periphery of the container flange 10 in the installed position of the lid 18 on the container 2. The lid flange 22 has at least one locking tab 24 extending upwardly along an inner surface 26 of the lid flange 22. An upper end of the locking tab 24 terminates at a spaced distance from the central portion 20 of the lid 18 with said distance being at least equal to the vertical width w of the first portion 14 of the container flange 10 for contacting the first portion 14 of the container flange 10 with the tab portion 24 (as shown in FIG. 3) and releasably locking the lid 18 to the container 2.

It is preferred that there be a plurality of first portions 14 each defined by the edges of intervening tab portions 12 on the container flange 10 and that the tab portion 24 of the lid flange 22 extends circumferentially about the lid flange 22 for more securely locking the lid 18 to the container 2. For more securely releasably locking the lid 18 to the container 2, 'it is also preferred that the length of the slot 1 1 along the container flange 10 be at least as great as the width w of the first portion 14 on either side of the line of severance 16 of the first portion 14 and have a width of at least four times the thickness of the container wall. It is further preferred that the lid flange 22 extends downwardly from the central portion of the lid a distance of at least 10 times the thickness of the container wall. To prevent leakage of material within the container through the line of severance 16, it is preferred that the line of severance l6 terminate at an elevation spaced from an upper edge 30 of the container 2. This weakened line of severance 16 formed through the first portion 14 which is not fixedly attached to the walls 4 of the container 2 permits the first portion 14 at its lower edge to extend outwardly from the walls 4 and provide a seat for a locking tab 24 of the lid 18.

For providing an easily constructed container and lid that are formed of relatively inexpensive materials, it is preferred that the lid, lid flange, container and container flange be formed of paperboard. This paperboard can be treated or coated as known in the art so that said container and lid is relatively impervious to liquids and portions of the paperboard can be heat sealed for fixedly attaching one portion to another.

As shown in FIG. 3, the locking tab 24 of the lid flange 22 can have portions 32 that'extend upwardly along the outer surface of the lid flange 22 and be fixedly attached thereto. Another construction of the locking tab 24 could be formed by curling a bottom edge of the flange inwardly and upwardly or by affixing the tab 24 to only the inner surface of the lid flange 22. In order to provide a tab having greater strength and stability, it is preferred that the tab have portions 32 attached to the lid flange 22.

In the closed position, as shown in FIG. 3, the locking tab 24 contacts the edge 13 of the first portion 14 of the container flange 10 which prevents upward movement of the lid 18 and secures said lid 18 in a releasably locking position. An upward force on one edge of the lid 18 causes the locking tab 24 to be deflected and sprung free of the first portion 14 for removal of the lid 18. During installation of the lid 18, the locking tab 24 of the lid 18 forces the first portion 14 against the walls 4 of the container 2. After the upper end 28 of the tab 24 passes the first portion 14, said slot portion moves outwardly bringing its edges 13 into abutting contact with said upper end 28 thereby releasably locking the lid to the container.

Other modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawing, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a container having walls and a top portion opening into a chamber of the container, comprising:

a downwardly extending container flange on the top portion of the walls of the container about at least a portion of the outer periphery of the top portion of the container, said container flange comprising at least one first portion and at least one tab portion, said first portion having a width (w) less than the width of the tab portion of the container flange and a line of severance extending upwardly from a slot defining said first portion with said first portion being spaced from the walls of the container and said tab portion contacting and being attached to the walls of the container; and

a lid having a central portion having dimensions sufiicient for covering the opening of the chamber of the container and a lid flange extending downwardly from the central portion and having dimensions sufficient for extending about and over the outer periphery of the container flange, said lid flange having at least one locking tab extending upwardly along an inner surface of said lid flange with an upper end of said locking tab terminating at a spaced distance from the central portion of the lid, said distance being at least equal to the vertical width of the first portion of the container flange for contacting an edge of the first portion of the container flange and releasably locking the lid to the container.

2. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of first portions with intervening tab portions on the container flange and the tab portion of the lid extends circumferentially about the lid flange.

3. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lid, the lid flange, the container, and the container flange are formed of paperboard.

4. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of the lid tab extends upwardly along an outer surface of the lid flange and is attached thereto.

5. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lid flange extends downwardly from the central portion of the lid a distance of at least 10 times the thickness of the container wall.

6. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first portion of the container flange has a width of at least four times the thickness of the container wall.

7. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the severance line of the first portion extends upwardly and terminates at an elevation spaced from an upper edge of the con- 

1. In combination with a container having walls and a top portion opening into a chamber of the container, comprising: a downwardly extending container flange on the top portion of the walls of the container about at least a portion of the outer periphery of the top portion of the container, said container flange comprising at least one first portion and at least one tab portion, said first portion having a width (w) less than the width of the tab portion of the container flange and a line of severance extending upwardly from a slot defining said first portion with said first portion being spaced from the walls of the container and said tab portion contacting and being attached to the walls of the container; and a lid having a central portion having dimensions sufficient for covering the opening of the chamber of the container and a lid flange extending downwardly from the central portion and having dimensiOns sufficient for extending about and over the outer periphery of the container flange, said lid flange having at least one locking tab extending upwardly along an inner surface of said lid flange with an upper end of said locking tab terminating at a spaced distance from the central portion of the lid, said distance being at least equal to the vertical width of the first portion of the container flange for contacting an edge of the first portion of the container flange and releasably locking the lid to the container.
 2. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein there are a plurality of first portions with intervening tab portions on the container flange and the tab portion of the lid extends circumferentially about the lid flange.
 3. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lid, the lid flange, the container, and the container flange are formed of paperboard.
 4. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a portion of the lid tab extends upwardly along an outer surface of the lid flange and is attached thereto.
 5. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the lid flange extends downwardly from the central portion of the lid a distance of at least 10 times the thickness of the container wall.
 6. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first portion of the container flange has a width of at least four times the thickness of the container wall.
 7. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the severance line of the first portion extends upwardly and terminates at an elevation spaced from an upper edge of the container. 